Packing and shipping container



Feb. 4, 1958 L. w. GRACI PACKING AND SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed June 1, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l S v m w R mA m w r w m u o L L. W. GRACI PACKING AND SHIPPING CONTAINER Feb. 4; 1958,

5 SheetsSheet 2 Filed June l, 1956 IN VEN TOR.

m m m 6 W W W Y w w/ L Feb. 4, 1958 L. w. GRACI I 21,822,093

PACKING AND SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed June 1, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 United States Patent i PACKING AND SHIPPING CONTAINER Louis W. Graci, Reedsville, Pa.

Application June 1, 1956, Serial No. 588,648

2 Claims. (Cl. 211-124) This invention relates generally to containers, and is more particularly concerned with an new useful packing container for garments and the like.

A primary object of invention is to provide a novel shipping and packing container including a tubular insert member incorporating an integral access panel portion, a substantially rigid frame member incorporating a transverse hanging rod removably positioned on an upper edge portion of the insert member, and a case member sealing disposable in telescoped relationship on the insert member in overlying relationship relative to the access panel portion.

Another object of invention is to provide a novel shipping and packing container including a tubular insert member incorporating an integral access panel portion therein, a substantially rigid frame member incorporating a transverse hanging rod removably positioned on an upper edge portion of the insert member, and upper and lower case members having a closed top and bottom portion, said case members being telescopically and re movably received on the insert member and including overlying edge portions accommodating therebetween a' suitable sealing tape, for example, wherein the packing and shipping container is substantially rigid when assembled and protects garments hung therein from moisture, moths and other damage of this character.

And yet another object of invention in conformance with that set forth is to provide for use on the upper edge of a tubular insert member of the character involved, a substantially rigid frame member including channel portions conforming to opposite edge portions of the insert member, said channel portions extending between intermediate portions of said channel portions and including thereon means for clampingly engaging a plurality of garment hangers to prevent the accidental displacement and removal thereof when the storage container is in transit, for example.

A further object of invention in conformance with that set forth is to provide a novel shipping and packing container of the character involved which is readily and economically manufactured, easily stored and assembled, and highly practical, serviceable and acceptable for the purpose intended.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of a novel shipping and packing container in its assembled condition;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of Figure 1, showing in phantom lines a garment hanger disposed therein;

Figure 3 is a further enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of Figure 2;

2,8Z2,93 Fatented Feb. 4, 1958 Figure 4 is a perspective view of the novel shipping and packing container with the upper case member thereof removed, showing the access panel portion of the insert member in an open position whereby garments disposed therein are readily accessible;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the novel shipping and packing container;

Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view of another embodiment of the novel shipping and packing container;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the embodiment of Figure 7 in its assembled condition;

Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of a novel frame member, similar to that shown in Figure 6, including thereon means for clampingly engaging a plurality of garment hangers which may be disposed over the support rod thereof, the clamping means being shown in an open position;

Figure 10 is a perspective view similar to Figure 9 showing the clamping means of the frame member in a closed position in substantially longitudinal alignment With respect to the support rod of the frame member; and

Figure 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on line 1111 of Figure 10, an intermediate portion thereof being broken away.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the novel shipping and packing container is indicated generally at 10, including an insert member 12, removable frame member 14, a lower case member 16 and an upper case member 18.

The insert member and case members may be con.- structed of any suitable material of sufiicient rigidity and strength, a heavy duty cardboard lending itself to this construction. The novel shipping and packing container is disclosed as being substantially rectangular, however, the same could be constructed as being cylindrical or any other suitable configuration desired. v

The insert member 12 includes a tubular body member 20 having side Wall portions 22 and 24 and end walls 26 and 28. The insert member 12 is constructed of a single sheet of material, the end wall 28 having its free edge portion 30, see Figure 6, overlying an elongated flange portion 32 integral with the side wall 24 being secured thereto by means of wire staples 34, for example. Disposed beneath the upper edge 36 of the insert member and hinged at the juncture between the side Wall 22 and end wall 28 is a panel portion 38 permitting ready access into the interior of the insert member. When the insert member is not being used for shipping or packing purposes the end and side wall portions of the insert member may be folded into substantially planar alignment for shipping and storage purposes.

The frame member 14 is substantially rigid being constructed of a suitable metal, plastic or the like and inhaving side portions 38 and 40, see Figure 5, removablyreceived on the upper edge 36 of the insert member 12, and extending transversely between side portions 42 and 44 thereof below the upper edge $6 is a suitable support rod 48 over which a plurality of hangers H may be hung. As is readily apparent, the frame member is readily removed from the upper edge of the insert member for the purposes of storing and shipping the container when not used for shipping garments, for example.

The case member 16 is telescopically received on the lower end portion of the insert member 12 conforming to the outer periphery thereof, and includes side walls 50 and 52 foldably connected to end walls 54 and 56,,

the side wall including an angular flange portion 58 which is secured to an overlying end portion of the end wall 54 by means of gluing, for example. The upper edge of the lower case member terminates below the access panel portion of the insert member as clearly seen in Figure 4, for example. The side walls 50 and 52 include at their lower edge portions foldable panel sections 64, and 66, respectively, see Figure 2, the panel portion 66 overlapping the edge portion 68 of the panel portion 64 having extending transversely thereacross a suitable sealing tape which may extend along the sides of the end walls 54 and 56 as seen in. Figures 1 and 6, for example. Inasmuch as the upper edge 62 of the lower case member terminates below the panel portion 38 of the insert member, the garments G, see Figure 4, within the insert member are readily accessible after the upper case member 18 has been removed.

When the tape 70 is removed from the lower case member the panel portions 64 and 66 of the case member may be extended in planar alignment with the side portions 50 and 52, respectively, thereafter the lower case member 16 may be readily folded for storage or shipping purposes.

The upper case member 18 is of a similar construction to the lower case member 16 including the side portions 72 and 74 in a manner similar to the wall portions of the case member 16. The side wall portions 72 and 74 include integral foldably related panel portions and 82, respectively, see Figure 2, the edge portion of the panel portion 82 overlying the adjacent edge portion of the panel portion 80 and having disposed thereon a transverse sealing tape 84 which may extend over the side wall portions 76 and 78 of the upper case member 18.

The lower edge of the case member 18 indicated at 86 overlies the upper edge 62 of the lower case member 16 when the packing and shipping container is assembled as seen in Figure l, defining a mating line 88 over which a suitable sealing tape 90 may be readily disposed for sealing the interior of the packing and shipping container.

Considering Figures 7 and 8, there is disclosed an other embodiment of the novel shipping and packing container indicated generally at 100, and including an insert member indicated generally at 102, a frame member 104 and a case member 106.

The insert member 102 comprises a tubular body member 108 including side walls 110 and 112 connected by transverse end walls 114 and 116', the side wall 112 including an elongated flange portion 118 integrally formed therewith and underlying the free edge portion 120 of the end wall 116 being secured thereto by means of suitable wire staples 122, for example. Disposed below the upper edge 124 of the insert member and hinged at the juncture between the side wall 110 and end wall 116 is an access panel portion 126 affording access to the interior of the insert member.

The side walls 110 and 112 include at their lower edge portions foldable panel sections 128 and 130 respectively see Figure 8, the panel section 130, if preferred, having an overlapping end portion 132 overlying the edge of the panel section 128 and being secured thereto by means of gluing, for example. A suitable sealing tape 134 may be disposed in transverse overlying relationship relative to the overlapped edges of the panel sections 128 and 130' and extend along the end walls 114 and 116.

The frame member 104 may be constructed of any suitable material, aluminum, plastic or the like, and comprises a hanger rod 136 suitably secured at its opposite ends to transversely disposed inverted U-shaped channel elements 138 and 140 which may be removably positioned in overlying relationship relative to the upper edges of the side walls 114 and 116.

The case member 106 is similar to the upper case member 18 of the previously disclosed embodiment shown in Figures 1 through 6, including a body portion 142 being suitably conformed to be telescopically received over the upper end of the insert member 102, said case member 106 being suitably closed at its upper end 144, the lower edge portion 146 thereof being extendable below the lower edge portion of the access panel 126 when mounted on the insert member 102, and a suitable sealing tape 148 may be circumposed about the lower edge 146 of the case member 106 for the purpose of sealing the shipping and packing container.

Considering Figures 9 through 11, indicated generally at 150 is a support frame similar to that shown in Figure 6, including side portions 152 and 154 which have an inverted U-shaped cross section as clearly seen in Figure 11. Portions 156 and 158 of the frame member 150 have a similar cross section for being received on. the upper edge of an insert member of the novel container. A suitable transverse support rod 160 is suitably secured at opposite ends to oppositely facing inner surface portions of the side portions 152 and 154.

The support rod 160 has extending transversely therethrough at one end portion a pivot pin element 162 which has opposite ends extending therethrough for pivot ally receiving thereon a bifurcated end portion 164 of an elongated clamp plate 166 which includes an arcuate cross section, being pivotal into substantial overlying longitudinal alignment with the upport rod 160 as seen in Figure 10, for example. The clamp plate 166 may be pivoted to the position shown in Figure 9 whereafter a plurality of hangers may be disposed on the support rod 160. Circumposed about the support rod 160 is a suitable retaining ring element 163 which is extendable over end portion 170 of the clamp plate 166 when the same is disposed in longitudinal alignment with the support rod 160 as clearly seen in Figure ll.

Although the clamp plate has been described in detail relative to a support frame conforming to that shown in Figure 6, it is readily apparent that the clamp plate may be utilized with the support frame 104 shown in Figure 7.

Thus there has been disclosed a novel packing and shipping container which fully conforms with the objects of invention heretofore set forth, permitting sale and expeditious storage and shipping of garments in a sealed condition for protection against damage and the like.

Various positional directional terms such as inner, outer, etc. are utilized herein to have only relative connotation to aid in describing the device and it is not intended to require any particular orientation with respect to any external elements.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modification and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. For use on the upper edge of a tubular container, a rigid support frame including side portions for disposition over opposite edges of the container, a transverse support rod extending between the side portions, and elongated clamp means securable in overlying relationship longitudinally on the support rod for retaining thereon hook portions of garment hangers, said clamp means comprising a clamp plate conforming to the outer periphery of the support rod, means pivotally securing one end portion of the clamp plate about a transverse pivot axis on the support rod, and means engageable with the other end portion of the clamp plate for retaining the same in longitudinally extending relationship on said support rod.

2. For use on the upper edge of a tubular container, a rigid support frame including side portions for disposition over opposite edges of the container, a transverse support rod extending between the side portions, and elongated clamp means securable in overlying relationship longitudinally on the support rod for retaining thereon hook portions of garment hangers, said clamp means comprising a clamp plate conforming to the outer periphery of the support rod, means pivotally securing one end portion of the clamp plate about a transverse pivot axis on the support rod, and means engageable with the other end portion of the clamp plate for retaining the 10 same in longitudinally extending relationship on said support rod, said support frame comprising a continuous member including a U-shaped cross section conforming to the entire upper peripheral edge of a tubular container upon which the support frame is disposed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,447,677 Williams Aug. 24, 1948 2,535,233 Ross Dec. 26, 1950 2,561,053 Fallert July 17, 1951 2,685,962 Druth Aug. 10, 1954 

